mauromontemurro

The Rings of Power, without a doubt, is made by people who fundamentally do not understand either the work or the message of Professor Tolkien. It's at best a fan fiction of Peter Jackson's movies (they shamelessly copy scenes and dialogue) but, unlike the original trilogy, this series lacks good writing, terrible acting, and appalling direction. The only thing I can rescue is the photography, but that's not enough. Friends, I'm a fan of Tolkien's work, but not a fundamentalist. I'm not offended when they change the race, color, or appearance of the characters as long as they do what they're supposed to do according to the original work. The Rings of Power borrows character names from Professor's legendary work to tell a kind of low-quality afternoon soap opera. I don't know who's to blame for such a calamity, but already into the third episode of the second season, things are getting worse and it's becoming increasingly boring.

I started watching The Orville as a parody in the style of "Galaxy Quest", but as I delved into the second season, the show not only entertained me but also emotionally invested me in the characters on a deeper level. The Orville, without being Star Trek, is the best representation of Star Trek ever brought to screen.

As a television product, I can confidently say that it has more production value than many big-studio movies. Not everything Seth MacFarlane touches turns to gold. For example, American Dad never rose above being a shallow and empty copy of Family Guy. But MacFarlane shines with The Orville, not only as the creator of the series but also with a solid performance as Captain Mercer. I wholeheartedly hope they rescue this gem and give us more seasons, otherwise it would be the most unjust and sad cancellation since Firefly.